Machine for grooving heels



Feb. 28, 1933. w. H. NUTT MACHINE FOR GROOVING HEELS 4' Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 5, 1929 A W NT m %w:

Feb. 28, 1933. w H NUTT 1,899,047

MACHINE FOR GROOVING HEELS Filed Feb. 5, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 zza Fi z. 15;

INVENTEIFE WW Fa 28, m3. w. H. NUTT 1,899,047

- MACHINE FOR GROOVING HEELS Filed Feb. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 28, 1933. I w. HfNUTT 1,899,047

Filed Feb. 5, 1929 4 SheetsSheet 4' Patented Feb. 28, 1933 VJILLIAM H. NUTT, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOE TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY MACHINE FOR GROOVING HEELS Application filed February 5, 1929. Serial No. 337,696.

This invention relates to machines for op.

erating upon heels'and is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine for forming grooves in the breasts of Louis heels to receive the margins of coverings to be applied to the heels.

In United- States Letters Patent 0. 1,718,- 177, granted June 18, 1929, on an applicat1on filed in my name, there is disclosed a Louis heel having a straight groove or slot extending heightwise of the heel along the middle of the heel breast, and in United States Letters Patent No. 1,7 61,021, granted June 3, 1930, on an application also filed in my name, there is disclosed a Louis heel having in its breast a compound groove or slot comprising a straight portion and a curved portlon, the straight por ion extending along the middle ofthe breast from the bottom or top-'lift-re ceiving face of the heel part Way to the attaching face thereof, while the curved portion of the groove extends fromone upper corner of the breast to the, other, the upper end of the straight portion meeting the curved portion to form a compound groove.

One object of the present invention is to provide a machine of simple construction which will be readily operable to form a groove or slot in a curved surface of 21 Louis or other heel such, for example, as the single,

straight groove disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent No. 1,718,177, or the straight portion. of ti" e compound groove disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent No. 1,7 61,021.

lvith-this object in view one feature of the present invention consists in the provision, in a machine for grooving or slotting curved heel surfaces, of groove-forming means or slot. forming means and heel supporting means relatively movable in a path following the contour of the curved heel surface to form a groove or slot in the heel which, as illustrated, lies in a single plane. In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated the groove forming device above referred to consists of a circular saw fixed on a horizontal shaft, and the heel supporting means compri es a carrier arranged to support a heel beneath the saw and mounted for movement to carry the heel past the saw in a path extending at right angles to the axis of the saw and provision being made for controlling the path of the carrier to produce a groove of uniform depth in the curved surface of the heel. The illustrated heel holder is provided with a V-shaped, trough-like portion within which the curved rear portion of the heel is adapted to rest and the arrangement is such thata relatively fixed abutment, arranged to bridge the attaching face of the heel,cooperates with the trough of the carrier in centering the heel breast relatively to the saw. As herein illustrated, also, means is provided which is selfadjusting to accommodate heels of different sizes for clamping a heel in a central position upon the heel carrier. The illustrated heel holder is mounted to yield relatively to the saw so that it may be moved in a path following the contour of the curved heel surface and i also {to facilitate the positioning of a heel in the carrier and the removal of the heel therefrom; The construction and arrangement of the heel carrier is such that the breast face of a heel carried thereby is positioned withinthe vision of the operator and thus the operator is enabled to watch the progress of the groove forming operation so that, for example, when forming the straight portion of a compound groove, he may accurately determine the point where the straight portion of the groove should terminate in order to connect properly withthe curved portion of the groove.

The invention further consists in features of construction and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In theaccompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig 1;

ig. 6 is a side elevational view of the ri ht-hand portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1, showing mechanism for forming a curved roove;

:Fig. is an elevational view of the righthand end of the machine;

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of 9. Louis heel grooved to receive the edges of a coverin Fifi!) is a sectional view taken along the line -IX of Fig. 8;

' Fig. 10 is a view of the bottom ortion of a finlshed shoe provided with a ouis heel havin a covering the margins of which are tucke into grooves in the heel breast;

Fig. 11 is a front elevational view of a Louis heel having a central groove for receiving the edges of a heel coverin and Fig. 12 is a sectional view ta en on line XII-XII of Fi 11.

Referring to t e drawings, there is shown a base late 10 (Fig. 1) upon which is mounte a edestal 11 provided with bearings 12, 12 or a rotary shaft 13 having fast and loose pulleys 17 and 18 mounted thereon between the bearings 12. The left end (Fig. 1) of the shaft 13 has a portion 13a of reduced diameter which terminates in a portion 13b of still less diameter to receive a circular saw 15 for forming a straight cove or slot, such as shown at a in the Louis eel A shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 and at a in a Louis heelD shown in Figs. 11 and 12. The saw 15 is positioned upon the shaft 13 so that it abuts against the shoulder formed at the outer end of the shaft portion 13a. The portion 13b of the shaft 13 is threaded to receive a sleeve 14 for holding the saw 15 tightly against the end of the portion 13a. T e op osite end of the shaft 13 is also threade as shown at 130 (Fig. 1 to receive a barrel saw 16 which is provide to form a curved groove or slot, such as shown at b in F .8and 9.

if: order to support the heels while they arepresented to the two grooving saws, supts J and J are provided, the support J ing mounted for movement to carry a heel the circular saw 15 and the support J Eein constructed and arranged for moving the eel against the, barrel saw 16.

The support J corn rises a trough-shaped holder 19, which is V-s aped in cross-section, attached to the upper portion of an upright standard 20 which is slidably mounted in a rocker member 21 for guiding the holder 19 toward and away from the saw 15 in substantiall a vertical direction.

T e rocker member 21 which ma be conveniently operated by a handle 3 is supported upon a reduced portion 22a (Fig. 5 of a stub shaft 22 substantially parallel wit the shaft 13 and is held u on the reduced portion by a nut 22b secure upon the end of the shaft. In order to limit the vertical movement of the standard 20 relatively to the rocker member 21, the standard 20 is rovided with sto s 4 and 5 above and be ow the rocker mem r 21 respectively. The heel holder 19 is thus mounted for swinging movement as well as rectilinear movement relativel to the circular saw 15, such movement being utilized to allow the support to be moved in a path corresponding to the curvature of the breast of the heel during the grooving operation, as well as to permit the heel to be moved toward and away from the circular saw 15 upon completion of the grooving operation and preparatory to operating upon a new heel.

In order to su port the stub shaft 22, the machine is provi ed with a block 23 clamped to the base plate 10 by means of the bolts 25. The stub shaft 22 is provided with a threaded portion 220 which is received in a threaded recess 22d in the block 23, the shaft clamped against movement relatively to the block 23 by means of a set screw 7.

The rocker member 21 is rovided with a slot 27 through which exten s a threaded up right rod 26 having threaded stops 2 and 3 (Fig. 2), one above and one below the rocker member, to limit the rocking movement of the rocker member. The steps 2 and 3 may be positioned along the rod 26 to limit the rotary movement of the rocker member 21 according to the length of the groove it is desired to form as will later appear, the stops being fixed to the rod 26 by means of set screws 26a.

A foot treadle 28 has an operative connection 29 with the lower end of a rod 9 attached to the bottom of the heel holder 19 in order that the said heel holder 19 and standard 20 may be pulled substantially vertically downwardly until the stop 4 enga with the upper side of the rocker mem 21, thus withdrawing the heel holder 19 away from the saw 15 preparatory to removal of the completed heel from the machine. When the downward pressure on the treadle is released the standard 20 and the heel holder 19 are moved to raised position (Figs. 1 and 2) by a spring 39 coiled around the rod 9 which spring is normall extended and is compressed between the bee holder 19 and the rocker member 21 when the treadle 28 is pressed down to lower the heel holder 19 away from the saw 15.

In order to' facilitate the centralizing of the heel in the heel holder so that the heightwise median line of the breast of the heel will lie vertically under the saw 15, the holder 19 is provided with a member or abutment 30 (Figs. 1 and 2) which extends transverse ly of the trough-shaped holder 19, substantially parallel to the shaft 13 and serves as a rest against which the rim of the attaclr ing face E of the heel engages.

For holding the heel firmly against the abutment 30 the heel holder 19 is provided with a hook-shaped rod 34 having a tapered engaging portion 34a which engages thetoplift-receiving face F of the heel under spring pressure. The heel centralizing mechanism is thus self-adjusting to heels of different sizes. The rod 34 has a return supporting portion 31 constructed and arranged to be rotatably and slidingly supported in a bearing 32, which rod has a collar 33 secured thereto.v At the forward end of the bearing 32 is a friction Washer 324! which serves to hold the rod 34 from rotating in its bearing unless positively moved by the operator. A. spring 36 is carried on the supporting portion 31 and abuts against the friction collar 32a and the collar 33 of the supporting portion 31 thereby normally urging the rod 34 toward the abutment 30. In order to release the heel for removal from the holder 19 or to permit placing another heel therein, the rod 34 is provided with a handle 35 which is conveniently arranged to be pushed toward the rear of the machine by the operator against the spring 36.

In car ying out the grooving operation it is desirable that the rod 34 engage only the rear portion of the top-lift-recsiving face F of the heel in the trough so that the rod 34 will not come into contact with th In order to control the HIBXlIHUHIUDWflIfil swing of the rod 34 in the holder, a stop plate 326 is provided, which plate is carried by a threaded rod 320 mounted on an arm extending from and supported by the bearing 32.. The plate 326 may be moved to any de sired vertical position by rotation of the threaded rod 320, thereby contr lling the maximum upward swing of the rod 34 in the holder 19.

When it is desired to form either of the grooves a or 8 and 11) the treadle 28 is depressed to lower the standard 20 together with the heel holder 19 to give suflicient clearance beneath the saw to permit the standard together with the holder 19 to be rocked forward of the machine for the convenient introduction of new heel in the holder 19. A heel is centrally positioned in the trough of'the holder 19 with its breast facing upwardly and with the of the attaching face E of the heel res against the abutment 30, the banlls 3 i ing been pushed back by the operator to move the tapered end 34a of the hook-shaped m w 3 faalv rod 34 rearwardly. The operator then releases the handle 35 and the tapered end 3464 of the rod actuated by the spring 36 engages the rear of the top-lift-receiving face F of the heel and presses the attaching face E of the heel against the abutment 30. It is clear, in view of the fact that the line of intersection 1961/ of the sides of the trough support lies vertically under the saw and the abutment is parallel to the shaft of the saw, that when the rim of the attaching face E of the heel is pressed against the said abutment the vertical center line of the breast of the heel will lie in the plane of the saw.

After the heel has been positioned, the rocker member 21 is swung back again to bring the standard 20 into vertical position and then the foot pressure on the treadle is released, the spring 39 carrying the standard 20 and the heel holder 19 upwardly until the lligeast of the heel yieldingly engages the saw In order to complete the grooving operation, the operator rocks the heel in the heel holder 19 against thesaw within the limits permitted by the stops 2 and 3, the standard 20 sliding in the rocking member 21 as the grooving operation progresses in order that the heel may be moved past the saw, and the work progressing from oneend of the heel to the other end to form a groove csuch as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. Where it is desired to form a compound groove such as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 it is customary for the operator to begin the groove at the heellift-attaching face F of the heel and progressively to trim toward and terminating adja cent to the curved groove Z) which is generally formed before the straight groove a. The breast of the heel is exposed to the View of the operator at all times so that the groove may be terminated at the proper place. When the groove has been formed the operator depresses the treadle, pushes "the handle rearwardly and rocks the standard forwardly, removing the heel and replacing it by another heel;

It will be noted that as the heel is rocked against the saw 15, the spring 39 will be compressed and elongated toallow the saw to follow the curved contoured surface of the heel, the depth of the out being limited by the cylindrical portions 13a. and 13b of the shaft which abut against opposite edge pol tions of the breast of the heel when a groove of required depth has been cut.

The part of the illustrated machine for forming the curved portion ofthe compound roove disclosed in the above-identified United'States Letters Patent No. 1,761,021

support which is mounted for rectilinear movement upon the plate 40 toward and away from the barrel saw 16 comprises a base 42 from which rise two bifurcated or slotted standards 45, 45 each of which has a vertical 5 slot 46. A heel holder 47 is pivotally mounted between the two standards 45 b means of an arbor 48 upon which said heel older is ivotall mounted, said arbor being received in the s ots 46, 46 in the standards and being clamped to the standard 45 at a redetermined an le to the barrel saw by a 0 amp nut 50, the ot or end of the arbor having a head 49. To facilitate the adjustment of the heel holder 47 relatively to the standards 45 and the barrel saw 16 as well as to maintain the heel holder 47 in adjusted position, the mach'me is provided with an adjustable rod 56 having its lower end 56a threaded for raising or lowering in the base 42. The top por- 2 tion of the rod 56 has a head 56b arranged to engage the under surface of the heel holder for assisting to support the heelholder 17 against movement during the heel-grooving operation.

The heel holder 47 is trough-shaped as the heel holder 19 and is provided with an end piece 51 at its lower end against which the to -lift-receiving face F of a heel in the ho der engages. A movable clam ing member comprising a tworonged for 52 is constructed and arrange to engage the attaching face of a heel after the heel has been positioned in the holder with its breast facing upwardl As shown in Fig. 1, the fork 52 is provi ed with a shank 53 which is ivotally connected with a cam lever 54, the atter being eccentrically fulcrumed between ears 55 n from the outer end of the heel holder 47. y rocking the cam lever 54 forward- 1y, i. e. toward the left as viewed in Figs. 1

and 6, the prongs of the fork 52 will be engaged with the attaching face of the heel, as m 'cated in Fi 6, to press the top-lift-reoeiving face of t e heel against the and piece 51, thus clamping the heel firmly in position to be presented to the saw 16.

In order to limit the movement of the support J toward the barrel saw and thus limit the depth of the groove to be cut in the breast of the heel, the support carries upon its upper face 420 a block 44 having a threaded stop member 43 running therethrough, which stop member is constructed and arranged to engage the pedestal 11 when the desired depth of groove has been formed. A stop 57 is also provided to retain the support J upon the plate 40.

In order to form a curved groove bin the breast of a heel, the heel is positioned in the heel holder 47 with its top-lift-receiving face Fin contact with the end piece 51, breast of the heel upas shown in Fig. 1. When the heel has been correctly positioned in the holder 47 the cam lever 54 is moved counterclockwise so as to engage the fork 52 against the receiving face E of the heel. After the heel has been correctly positioned in the heel holder 47, the heel holder is presented at the desired angle to the standards 45 in order correctly to position the heel to the barrel saw 16. The support J is next moved toward the barrel saw 16 until the stop member 43 contacts with the pedestal 11 to limit the depth of the groove in the breast of the heel. The support J is then moved away from the knife to the position shown in Fig. 1, the heel being moved by releasing the cam lever 54.

The above-described part of the machine for forming the curved groove 7) (Figs. 8 and 9) is disclosed and claimed in application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 554,011, filed July 30, 1931, which is a division of the present application.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a heel grooving machine, grooving means, a holder for a heel to be grooved, a support for said holder, and a rocker member arranged to carry said support, said rocker member and support being constructed and arranged to permit the heel holder to be moved away from the grooving means in a rectilinear path and also to be rocked in a plane including said path.

In a heel grooving machine, grooving means, a heel holder mounted to permit its movement in a curved path, and means for causing the heel holder to press a heel with yielding pressure against the grooving means, said means being constructed and arranged to facilitate the moving of the heel holder in a path determined by a dimension of the heel being operated upon to form a groove in the breast of the heel.

3. A machine for operating upon heels having, in combination, slot-forming means, a heel holder mounted to permit its movement in a curved path, said heel holder comprising members constructed and arranged to position a heel in the heel holder, and means constructed and arranged to cause the heel holder to secure the heel positioned in the heel holder with a yielding pressure against the slot forming means, said lastnamed means being constructed and arran ed to facilitate the moving of the heel hol er in a path determined by a dimension of the heel bein operated upon to form a cover-receiving slot in the breast of the heel.

4. In a heel grooving machine, groovin means, a heel holder, a support for said hol er, said support being mounted for rocking movement relatively to the grooving means, means for causing the heel holder to position a heel and to hold it with a yielding pressure against the groovin means, and means for moving the heel hol er downwardly to withdraw the heel from engagement with the grooving means.

:5, In a heel grooving machine, grooving means, a heel holder, a support for the heel holder, saidsupport being mounted for rocking movement relatively to the grooving means, means for causing the heel holder to position a heel and normally to hold it with a yielding pressure against the grooving means, means for moving the heel holder downwardly to withdraw the heel from engagement with the grooving means, and means for clamping the heel in adjusted position in the holder.

6. In a heel grooving machine, a circular saw, a heel "holder constructed and arranged to position a heel and to hold it in operative relation to the saw, a support for the heel holder, means which normally cause the said holder to retain the heel with a yielding pressure against the saw, and a rocker member constructed and arranged to receive the support and in which said support is movable away from and toward the saw.

7. In a heel grooving machine, a circular saw mounted upon a horizontal shaft, a heel holder constructed and arranged to position a heel and to hold it in operative relation to the saw, a support for the heel holder mounted for movement in a substantially vertical path, means which normally cause the said holder to retain the heel with a yielding prssure against the saw, a rocker member in which the support is movable in said path, said rocker member being mounted on 'a horizontal axis substantially parallel to the axis of the saw, means for moving the support in the substantially vertical path to move the heel away from'the saw, and means for rotating said rocker member on its axis to swing the Work holder at an angle to the said path.

8. In a machine for grooving heels of shoes, grooving means, and aheel holder constructed and arranged to position a heel and to hold it in operative relation to the grooving means, said holder being constructed and arranged for movement in a curved path corresponding to the shape of the surface of the heel being operated upon by the grooving means, means for retainingthe heel with yielding pressure against the grooving means, and means formoving the heel away from the. grooving means preparatory to the inserting of the heel in the holder and the removing of the grooved heel from the holder.

9. In a machine for grooving heels of shoes, grooving means, a heel holder, means for effecting relative movement between the grooving means and the heel holder, and means to cause the heel holder to be urged toward the grooving means with yielding pressure during said relative movement.

10. In a machine for grooving Louis heels for shoes, grooving means, a movable V- shaped support for a heel of a shoe, and

means for causing the heel to engage the grooving means with yielding pressure.

11. In a machine for grooving Louis heels for shoes, a circular saw, a trough-shaped holder for a heel of a shoe, means for clamping the heel in adjusted position in said holder, and means for operating the holder to move the heel into engagement with the saw.

12. In a machine for forming slots in the to engage one face of a heel, and a member I mounted for engagement .with an opposite face of the heel and arranged to press the heel against the abutment and to cooperate therewith to position the heel widthwise in the heel holder.

14. In a machine for slotting heels, a heel holder comprising an abutment rigidly se cured thereto to engage the attaching face of a heel, and a member mounted for engagement with the top lift receiving face of the heel to cooperate with the abutment in positioning the heel widthwise in the heel holder. 15. In a machine for slotting heels, a heel support, means to form a slot in a face of a heel mounted upon the heel support, said heel support being mounted for pivotal as well as rectilinear movement, and resilient means to sustain said support in a predetermined position and to permit the same to move freely in a path similar to the curvature of said face as pressure is exerted against the heel during the heel slotting operation. v

16, In a machine for slotting heels, a heel support, means to form aslot in a face of a heel mounted upon the support, said support being mounted for pivotalas well as rectilinear movement, resilient means to sustain said support in a predetermined position and to permit the same to move freely in a path similar to the curvature of said face as pressure is exerted against the heel during the heel slotting operation, and means controllable by the operator for moving the support away from the slot forming means to remove slotted heels from the support and to place heels to be slotted thereon. 17. In a slotting machine, slot-forming means, and a heel support constructed and arranged securely to position therein a heel having a heightwise curved breast, the support being mounted for movement in a curved path past the slot-formin means to form in the breast of the heel a s ot of uniform depth extending heightwise of the breast of the heel.

18. In a machine for grooving the heels of shoes, grooving means, and a heel support constructed and arranged securely to position a Louis heel thereon, said support being mounted for rectilinear as well as rocking movement to move the heel positioned upon the support relatively to the groove-forming means in a ath similar to the curvature of the breast o the heel and extending heightwise of the heel.

19. In a machine of the class described, means to form a heel-cover-receiving groove in a heel, a heel support movable away from the grooving means into a heel-receiving and heel-discharging osition, said support being mounted for roc ing as well as rectilinear movement, and resilient means for urging the support toward the grooving means.

20. In a machine of the class described, means to form in the breast of a Louis heel a oove extending heightwise of the heel, a gel support constructed and arranged for movement in various paths in a plane, the sha of each of the paths being determined by t e shape of the heel being operated upon, and means for rocking the support past the groovin means.

21. In a machine for grooving the heels of shoes, in combination, grooving means and means to support a heel mounted for relative movement in a curved path along a curved surface of the heel upon the support to form in the heel a groove lying in a single plane and extending along the curved surface.

22. In a machine for grooving heels of shoes, in combination, means for forming a relatively narrow and deep groove in the breast of a heel, means for supporting the heel, said ooving means and heel supporting means ing mounted for relative movement to form the groove in a single plane and extending alon the curved surface of the breast of the hee 23. In a machine for grooving Louis heels for shoes, in combination, grooving means, and means for su porting a heel and locating it in a predetermined relation to the grooving means, the grooving means and the means for supportm the heel being constructed and arranged %or relative movement to form a groove of substantially uniform depth in g pllane and curved surface portion of the 24. In a machine for grooving heels of shoes, in combination, a circular saw and heel supporting means mounted for relative movement to form in a heel a groove of uniform depth lying in a single plane and extending along a curved surface of the heel.

25. In a machine for grooving heels of shoes, in combination, a circular saw and heel supporting means mounted for relative movement to form in a heel a groove lying in a single plane and extending along a curved surface of the heel.

26. In a machine for grooving a curved heel surface, in combination, grooving means and heel supporting means relatively movable in a path following the contour of the curved heel surface to form a groove lying in a plane.

27. In a machine for grooving a curved heel surface, in combination, grooving means and heel supporting means relatively movable in a path following the contour of the lclurved heel surface to form a groove in the eel.

28. In a machine for grooving a curved heel surface, in combination, groovin means and heel supporting means relative y movable in a path following the contour of the curvedsurface to form a groove of uniform depth lying in a plane.

29. In a machine for grooving heel surfaces, in combination, grooving means constructed and arranged to form a narrow groove of considerable depth in a curved surface of a heel, and heel supporting means arranged to positionthe heel and to present it to the grooving means with the surface to be grooved located within the vision of the operator, said heel supporting means being movable in a curved path extending heightwise of the positioned heel to enable the grooving means to form the groove along the curved surface.

30. In a slotting machine, slot-forming means and a heel support mounted for relative movement in a curved path to form in a curved surface of a heel mounted upon the support a slot which is of uniform depth and lies in a single plane, and means to limit the depth of the slot so formed.

31. In a machine for grooving Louis heels, in combination, grooving means constructed and arranged to form a narrow groove of considerable depth in the breast surface of a Louis heel, a support for the heel, and means carried by the support for centering the heel widthwise thereof on said support and for clamping the heel to the support, said groove forming means and said support being mounted for relative movement in a curved path to perform the grooving operation.

32. In a machine for grooving heels of shoes, in combination, grooving means and a trough-shaped holder for a heel mounted for relative movement to form a groove in the breast of a heel, and means for centering the heel in the holder, said centering means being self-adjusting to heels of different sizes.

33. In a machine for grooving Louis heels, in combination, grooving means and heel supporting means mounted for relative moveof the breast of a Louis heel and extending heightwise of the breast, self-adjustable means for centering the heel upon the supporting means, and means for limiting the depth of the groove.

35. In a machine for grooving heels of shoes, in combination, grooving means and a trough-shaped holder for a heel mounted for relative movement to form a groove in the breast of the heel, and means for centering the heel in the holder.

'36. In a machine for grooving heels of shoes, in combination, grooving means and a trough-shaped holder for a heel mounted for relative movement to form a groove in the breast of the heel, means for centering the heel in the holder, and means for limiting the depth of the groove.

37. In a machine for grooving heels, in combination, grooving means and a troughshaped holder for a heel mounted for relative movement to form a groove in the breast of the heel, means for centering the heel in the "holder, and means for insuring-the formation of the groove to a uniform depth throughout its length.

3&111 a machine for grooving heels, in combination, grooving means and trough shaped holder for a heel mounted for relative movement to form a groove in the breast of the heel, means for centering the heel in the holder, and means for holding the heel against said centering means.

39. lnamachine for grooving heels, in combination, grooving means and a heel holder mounted for relative movement to form a groove in the breast of the heel, the heel holder carrying two members, one stationary relatively to the holder and arranged to engage the attaching face of the heel and the other movable relatively to the holder and arranged to en age another face of the heel, said members being constructed and arranged to cooperate with the holder for centering heels of different sizes and shapes in the holder and widthwise of the heels upon the holder, and yieldable means for urging the heel against said centering means.

l0. In a machine for grooving heels. in combination, grooving means and a support for a heel mounted for relative movement to form a groove in the breast of the heel, means for centering the heel in the support, yielda-ble means for urging the heel of the shoe against said centering means, and means engaging the edge portions of the breast of the heel for limiting the depth of the groove.

41. In a grooving machine, grooving means and heel supporting means mounted for relative movement to form in the breast of a Louis heel a groove extending heightwise of the breast of the heel, heel centering means located on said supporting means and arranged to center the heel widthwise thereof on the supporting means by contact with the attaching face of the heel, and means for urging the heel against the heel centering means.

4-2. in a machine of the class described, grooving means and heel supporting means mounted for relative movement in a curved path to form in the breast of a Louis heel a groove extending heightwise of the heel, and means carried by the supporting means and arranged to center the heel widthwise thereof on the supporting means by contact with the attaching face of the heel.

d3. In a slotting machine, slot-forming means and a heel support mounted for relative movement in a curved path to form in the breast of a Louis heel mounted upon the support a heel cover receiving s ot extending heightwiseof said breast, a member arranged for engagement with the rim of the attaching face of the heel to center the breast of the heel in the heel support, and means to urge the heel against said member.

In a machine for grooving Louis heels, grooving means and heel supporting means mounted for relative movement to form a groove in the breast of a heel, and means for limiting the depth of the groove by contact with the breast of the heel. Y i

45. In a machine for grooving Louis heels, a rotating shaft, grooving means located upon the shaft, a support for a heel, said grooving means and support being mounted for relative movement to form a groove in the breast of the heel, and means for limiting the depth of the groove by contact of the breast of the heel with the shaft.

46. In a machine for grooving heels, grooving means, a heel support mounted for rocking as well as rectilinear movement, means for rocking the suppor relatively to the grooving means to form a groove in a curved surface of a heel mounted upon the support, and means for limiting the rocking of the support to control the length of the groove.

47, In a machine for grooving heels, means to form a groove in a heel, a heel support mounted for rocking movement about an axis am also mounted for movement toward and away from the axis to move the heel upon tie support past the grooving means, means for rocking the support, and adjustable means for varying the angle through which the support may be rocked to control the length of the groove.

48. In a machine for grooving heels, means to form a groove in a heel, a heel support mounted for rocking movement about an axis and also mounted for movement toward and r away from the axis to move the heel upon the support past the grooving means, means for moving the support in a substantially straight path, means for rocking the support,

and means for limiting the rocking movement of the support to control the length of the groove.

49. In a machine for grooving heels, grooving means, a pivotally mounted heel sup- '1 port, means for moving the support in a "2 relatively to the mount to accommodate varying sizes and shapes of heels, and means for clamping the heel in adjusted position in said holder, said mount and saw being arranged for relative movement to bring the heel and the saw into engagement with each other for performing the heel grooving operation.

51. In a heel grooving'machine, grooving means, a heel holder, means for causing the heel holder to position a heel with yielding pressure against the grooving means, said means being constructed and arranged to move the heel holder past the grooving means in a path determined by the shape of the heel being operated upon to form a groove in the breast of the heel.

52. In a grooving machine, a heel holder constructed and arranged to carry two members, one being stationary and arranged to engage the attaching face of a heel mounted on the heel holder and the other being movable relatively to the holder and arranged to engage the top-lift-receiving face of the heel, said members being constructed and arranged to cooperate with the holder to posi-.

tion the heel in the holder lengthwise and widthwise of the heel.

53. In a grooving machine, grooving means, and a trough-shaped holder for supporting a heel for presenting it to the grooving means, said heel holder having two members, one stationary relatively to the holder and the other movable relatively to the holder, said members being constructed and arranged to cooperate with the holder to position the heel widthwise thereof in the holder.

54. In a grooving machine, a circular saw, and a heel support constructed and arranged securely to hold a Louis heel and mounted for movement relatively to the saw in a path extending heightwise of the positioned heel to form in the breast of the heel a groove extending heightwise of the heel and coincident with the median line of the heel breast.

55. In a grooving machine, a circular saw,

and a heel support constructed and arranged securely to hold a Louis heel and mounted for movement relatively to the saw in a path extending heightwise of the positioned heel to form in the breast of a heel a oove of uniform depth extending heightwise of the heel and coincident with the median line of the heel breast.

56. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means to form a groove in a curved heel part, and a heel holder mounted for rotation about an axis and also mounted for movement toward and away from said axis to present a heel to the ooveforming means and to permit the eel to move in a path similar to the curvature of the part of the heel being grooved.

57. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means to form a groove in a curved heel part, a heel holder mounted for rotation about an axis and also mounted for movement toward and away from said axis to present a heel upon the'holder to the groove-forming means and to rmit the heel holder to move in a path similar to the curve of the part of the heel being grooved, and resilient means normally urgng the holder away from the axis.

58. A groovin machine having, in combination, means or forming a heel-cover-receiving groove in a curved surface of a heel, and heel-supporting means movable relatively to the groove-forming means in a path following the contour of the curved heel surface to present the heel to the groove-forming means for performing the grooving operation.

59. A grooving machine having, in combination, a circular saw for forming a heelcover-receiving groove in the curved surface of a heel, and heel-supporting means mounted for movement past the circular saw in a path lying in the plane of the circular saw and following the contour of the curved surface to present the hml to the saw for performing the grooving operation.

60. A heel grooving machine having, in combination, a rotary cutter, a hail holder mounted for movement toward and away from said cutter, an abutment carried by said holder for engaging the attaching face of a heel, a spring-pressed member carried by the holder and constructed and arranged normally to en the tread face of the heel to press the heel against said abutment for positioning the heel upon the holder and for clamping the heel to the holder, and means for moving the holder past the cutter to form in the breast of the heel a heel-coverreceiving groove.

61. A heel grooving machine having, in combination, a rotary saw, a heel holder mounted for movement toward and away from the saw, an abutment carried by the holder for engaging the attaching face of a heel, a spring-pressed member carried by the holder and constructed and arranged normally to engage the tread face of the heel and to press the heel against said abutment for positioning the heel upon the holder and for clamping the heel to the holder, means for swinging the member toward and away from the holder to vary the effective position of engagement of the member with the heel upon the holder, and means for moving the holder past the saw to form in the breast of the heel a heel-cover-receiving groove.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM H. NUTT. 

